Typewriting machine



Aug. 1928..: u

. J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed OCT.. 16, 1924 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

AUNITED STATES 1,680,481 PATENT *o1-"Fica JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STANFORD. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN OR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N, Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed October 16, 1924. Serial No. 743,899.

rIhis invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to paper-feeding and controlling devices therefor, in which a plurality of superposed work-sheets 5 with interleaved carbon-sheets may be gripped and i'ed between the feed-rolls, and in which the work-sheets may comprise, as a first or top sheet, a relatively narrow statement-sheet, and .as a second sheet a wider or ledger-sheet. More particularly, the present invention relates lto means for relatively positioning or collating the several work-sheets after these work-sheets have been inserted around the platen, between the platen and the feed-rolls.

The present invention .presents improvements over the mechanism disclosed in the patents to H. lV. Harris, N o. 1,433,718, and No. 1,433,817, both dated October 3l, 1922. This invention can be used for a variety of work, as, for example, typing statements and ledger-sheets. The same ledger-sheet is used with a succession of statements. The

ledger-sheet may be wider than the statement, and the two sheets may be inserted around the platen of a typewriter with the narrow statement-sheet on the outside, a carbon intervening between the sheets for making duplicate entries upon the ledgersheet.

The ledger-sheet may contain items previously typed thereon, and at each insertion it is desired to bring this ledger-sheet into proper relation with the printing line of the typewriter, so that the next line of typing will fall beneath the previous items thereon. This is required to be done even though the ledger is covered up' bythe narrow statement-sheet. TheY statementsheet is originally positioned properly when inserted inthe machine, so that the first line of typing will fall at the desired point thereon.

K Previous to placing these sheets in the machine, they are assembled out of proper typing relationship to each other, that is, with the first blank space on the ledgersheet at a point above the first blank space on the overlying statement-sheet. Said preliminary adjustment of the sheets is not final; the final adjustment `of the ledgersheet beingr effected` after the sheets are inserted in the typewriter.

To effect this tinal adjustment, the previously positioned outside or statementsheet is held stationary by means of clamps engaging the margins thereof, while the inside sheet is fed backwardly, by means of auxiliary feed-rolls engagingrwith its exposed side margins. Said rolls co-operate with the platen to move the ledger 4sheet table erected` at the delivery side of the platen. g

The statement-sheet is filled up with items which are added fromday to day, or at other intervals. When out of the typewriting machine, it may be clipped to the ledgersheet or otherwise connected thereto, for convenience in reinserting both in the machine i'rom time to time as required. Then a ledger-sheet is iilled up, a new one is substituted. V

For facilitating the adjustment of the underlying ledger-sheet to the printing line during insertion thereof into the typewriter, a pencil mark in its sidemargin is made by the operator, at the conclusion of the typing of each entry. This mark guides the operator subsequently in bringing the ledgersheet down to the same point Where the last item was typed;` and then the operator advances fthe sheet one or two line-spaces, preparatory to beginning the typing of the nextitem. e Y y `The collating table is mounted on the platen-frame, and carries paper-clamps to hold the narrow sheet kagainst .the table while the wider sheet is moved around `by means of the platen, ,to collate the sheets.

One of the features of this invention relates to means for laterally positioning the work-sheets relatively to the platen, and to each other, previously to their being inserted to permit the wider sheets to lie over the inner gages and still bel gaged by the outer gages.

According to another feature of this invention, provision ismade to actuate both paper-clamps by the operation ot either, and to resiliently hold both clamps in either eti'ective or ineffective position. The clamps are pivotally mounted upon a table at the delivery side of the platen and are operatively connected by means of a reciprocating link effective to swing one of the clamps when the other clamp is operated. The clamps are heldin either' ettective or ineffective position by meansof over-center springs operatively copnecting the clamps with the supporting ta le.

i Otherl features and advantages will hereinafterappear. Y f

'In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view, showing the invention as appliedto the platen-frame of a typewriting machine.

- Figure 2 is a plan view of the paperclamps, showing means to co-ordinate their operation.

Figure 3 isr a cross-sectional view through line 3 3, looking' in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 isa cross-sectional view through line 4.-4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows the adjustably-mounted work-sheet guides.

Figure 5 is a detail plan View, showing the co-operative relation between the paperclamp andthe thumb-lever, and the method of mounting thefclamp upon the supporting table.

The platen 10, of theusual cylindrical type', is carriedby an axle 11, journaled in end frames 12 and 13 and is manually operable by .means of afinger-wheel 14.

,Thereare also shown the ordinary feedrolls 15 and 16`,`springpressed paper-fingers 17, each provided with a pressure-roll 18 adjustably mounted upon tie-rod 19, and a paper-chute or paper-table 20.

Mounted upon the end frames 12 and 13 there is a table 21, parallel to the platen 10, which has ears'25 formed for the purpose of carrying rock-shafts 23 operatively connecting paper-clamps 22 and thumblevers l24', said paper-clamps 22 being arranged to co-operate with the table 21 to positively hold a work-sheet 34. The paperclamps are actuated by an' over-center-spring arrangement which permits springs 26 to either hold said clamps 22 against the table 21, as shown in Figure 2, or to hold said clamps 22 in their ine'ective position, as shown in said VFigure 2 indot-and-dash lines.

In order that one clamp 22 may be operated by the other and that simultaneously and automatically one clamp may be operated by the other, there is provided a link 27 axially aligned and connected to said clamps in such a manner and the relative connectingr point between the clamps and the rock-shafts 23 is such that when one is operated the pressure exerted upon said link 27 will be transmitted to the other clamp so as to impart to the saine a similar motion. Thus, when one clamp is thrown from the clamping position to the ineilective position, the other will vsin'iultaneously operate in the same manner and vice versa. 'lo accomplish this, the link 27 is connected in the left-hand clamp 22 at 28 in thumb-lever 2l while in the right-hand clamp the link 27 is connected instead of a rearwardly-extending arm by means of screw 29. The springs 26 are mounted at one end by means of stationary spring-studs 30 on the table 21, and at the other end by means ot similar studs 31 fast upon the paper-clamps 22. When the clamps are swung from one position to the other, they will have to first overcome the tension of the springs 26 up to the point wht-re they will pass the neutral position in which the two studs 30 and 3l. and the rock-shafts 23 are in line, but will be thrown the rest of their travel by the tension of the springs pulling in the other direction, and, furthermore, will either hold the clamps in their ineffective position or will hold them under tension against the table to support the narrow work-sheet.

The work-sheet-spacing guides are adjustiably mounted upon the paper-table 2O and comprise a pair of narrow sheet-guides 32 and a pair of wide sheet-guides 33.

YVhen the work-sheets are placed in eooperative position with the platen and the sheet-guides, the lines along which typewriting is to be done may be at different heights upon the sheets and'it will then be necessary to effect a relative adjustment of the sheets. To this end, the clamps 22 are provided so that the narrow orstatement sheet 34 may be held, while the wider or ledger sheet may be positioned in relation to the former by means of the platen 10 and the pressurerolls 18.

It will be noted that while inserting the work-sheets, which include the customary carbon-paper between them, and the platen 10 is rotated to feed the sheets, the wide sheet 35 will get under paper-fingers 17 and being guided by the pressure-rolls 1S` will be fed between the table 21 and the platen 10, but the narrow sheet 34, due to the fact that it is not wide enough to enter the paperngers 17, will follow the path of least resistance, as shown by line 34; in Figure 3, and will feedthus until itis forced to lie on table 21 to be held by paper-clamps 22. The table 21 is under cnt in the center torassist in guiding the wider work-sheet under it. so that it will first enter thecnds and gradually lll() force the edgesof the paper under the table.

Since the ledger-sheet 35 has to be collated relatively to the statement-sheet 8lwhich is in front of the .ledger-sheet, it is necessary to mark thelcdger-slieet at one of its margins so as to identify the position'of the last line of typing. Such a mark may be typed upon the sheet previously lto withdrawing' the same from the machine, and is shown in Figure l indicated by the numeral 3G.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having` thus described my invention, I claim:

l. The combination, in a typewriting machine, of means for simultaneously clamping both edges-of a work-sheet upon a table at the delivery side of the platen, said means including' a pair of clamps pivotally mounted upon the table, a link pivotally connected to both clamps for a joint clampinpl movement, and springs operative to maintain each clamp in clampingl engagement with the Work-sheet.

2. The combination, in a typewriting` machine, of a revoluble platen, rcleasable feedrollers co-operating therewith to feed a plurality of sheets therearounc inner and outer adjustable side gages at the introductory side of the platen for collatingr wide and narrow superposcd work-sl'ieets, a table at the delivery side of the platen to support the narrow work-sheet, means for simultaneously clamping both side edges of the narrow wolk-sheet against the table, and feeding* means operative to engage the side margins of the wide inner sheet to collate the latter under the clamped narrow sheet.

3. lin a typewrit-ingr machine, in combination, a platen-frame includingr a platen and feed-rolls to cfa-operatively receive a plurality of superposed work-sheets, a table mounted upon said platen-frame and carrying upon it two n'ianually-operable paperclamps cti-operating with said table for effectively retaining the outer work-slieet, an over-center-spring arrangement for operatively controlling' the extreme positions of said paper-clamps and for positively holding said clamps in either effective or ineffective position, a link connectl ,if said paper-clamps so that either one of the two clamps may be operated by operating the other, and to simultaneously operate both from effective to ineffective position or vice versa, and means to hold the clamps in either effective or ineffective position, and to positively force the clamps against the table to positively retain the outer worksheet.

4. The combination, in a typewriting machine, of a revoluble platen, side gages at tl e introductory side of the platen for collating Wide and narrow superposed worksheets, releasable rollers running on the platen for feeding` all the sheets therearound, means for temporarily clamping thenarrow outer sheet after of, to permit collating of the wideI inner sheet, said means including a table at the delivery side of the platen, a pair of clamps pivoted on both sides of said table for holdingl opposite edges ofthe outer sheet against the table, and alink clamps for a unitary movement thereof, and feeding means operative to engage the side margins of the wide inner sheet to collate the latter under the clamped narrow sheet.

5. The combination, in a'typewrit-ing machine, of means for simultaneously clamping both edges of a work-sheet upon a table adjacent. the platen, at the delivery side thereof, said means including a pair of clamps pivotally mounted upon said table, and a` link pivotally connecting both clamps to promote a joint movement of the clamps.

G. The combination, in a typewriting machine, of means for simultaneously clamping both edges of a work-sheet upon a. table adjacent the platen, at the delivery side thereof, said means including a pair of clamps pivotally mounted upon said table, and pivotally connected to a. link operative to effect a joint vibration of the clamps in opposite directions.

7. The combination, in a typewriting machine, of means for clamping both edges of a work-sheet `upon a table adjacent the platen, at the delivery side thereof, said means including clamping members pivotally mounted upon said table, finger-pieces for operating` the clamps, and means operatively connecting the finger-pieces to promote a joint operation of the clamps to operative or inoperative position.

8. The combination, in a typewritng machine, of means for clamping both edges of a work-sheet upon a. table adjacent the platen, at the delivery side thereof, said means including` clamping members pivotally mounted upon said table, over-center springs arranged to hold the clamps in either effective or ineffective positions, finger-piecesfor operating said clamps, and means for operatively connecting the clamps to afford their simultaneous operation, .said last-mentioned means including a rear eX- tension on one of the clamps, a link operatively connected to said extension, and means for operatively connecting said link to the other clamp,

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a revoluble platen, two pairs of side gages at the introductory side of the platen, one pair of the gages within the other pair for collating` a wide and a narrow superposed work-sheet around the platen, rollers to feed both sheets around the platen,

the Jositioning therepivotally j oiningboth.

means to temporarily clamp one sheet to permit the eollating of the other Sheet, said clamping means including a table at-the delivery side of the platen and a pair of clamps arranged at opposite sides of said table to hold the opposite edges of one Worl'- Sheet against the table, and means for connecting the clamps together for a unitary clamping movement.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a revoluhle platen, two pairs of side gages at the introductory Side of the platen, one pair of the gages Within the other pair for collating a wide and a narro7 superposed work-sheet around the platen, rollers JESSE A. B. SMITH. 

